The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1887-09-23
Ladies' Department.
Walking as an Exercise.

distance and walk to the post Of
fee involves journey OF half to
two or three miles. than in the city.
That this is not the case is evidentl
by remark made by lady now re-
siding in the city, but formerly on a
farm in the country. She said, 81
quite surprised my sisters and the
folks when l was at home last Sum
mer by the distance | could walk
adding, People do not walk nearly
as much in the country as we do
here" The fact that the distances
are long and that a horse and buggy
is almost a neces sity leads to this
result.
There are many objects Of interest
in the city, such as show windows,
ETC., which can only be viewed dur
ing walk and in this way long
distance can be traverscd almost un =.
consciously. 1t is not uncommon
for men whose business takes them
out upon the street to say at night
they have walked from six to ten
miles, while the scholars attending
some of our schools walk a mile or
two to school every day, and are by
no means the pale feeble creatures
city girls are represented to be. But
neither show windows nor any of
the sights of the city can be more at
trac;ive than nature at this time,
when everything is clothed with its
gayest colors, and green grass is soft.
er to the foot than wooden sidewalks
or flagstones of the city streets,
while the song Of birds is sweeter
music than the rumble of heavily
laden teams or the whistle of steam
tugs.
Walking is an exercise which COM
bines more useful features than any
other one form. Whether taken for
pleasure or business, the mind may
be employed as we'll as the muscles,
and in fact, should be, for a walk
taken with no object in view, fails in
a great degree of the benefit which
should be The result. This exercise
brings into play almost every muscle
Of the body at the same time, for to
walk properly, the arms should not
be pinioned at the sides as is done
when carrying muff or when the
arms are wrapped in shawl, but
should hang loosely at the sides.
Any one who has noticed man
walking with his hands IN his pocl-
cts knows how awkward he appears,
and it would be almost impossible for
him to walk rapidly. To be grace
full walker is almost as much Of an
accomplishment as to be q good
reader. and it is more rare to find
one among ladies. Many persons
either naturally or from some cir
cumstances in their early life, have
some popularity in their walk which
they can never entirely overcome,
but like all our natural faculties it is
capable of improvement.
Whole books have been written
giving directions for acquiring a
graceful carriage, direction for hold
ing the arms, shoulders, head, and in
fact every portion of the body has
received It's share of attention. Dio
Lewis in his book of Advice to Girls,
says these various directions and in
structions may be comprised under
one very short rule, namely: Keep
chin close to neck. Let anyone try
walking for few minutes in this pc.
sition, and while it may appear awk-
ward to them at first, they will be
surprised to see how it will bring the
head and shoulders into an erect DO,
sition, thus giving the lungs full play
while the arms will fall natural
ly at the sides, and the whole body
is in readiness to receive the full ex-
ercise. Bertha Won Hlllern, the
famous ex.pedestrian says: cry to
acquire the habit of walking from
the hips-I had almost said from the
shoulders-which is really the true
way"
Walking as an exercise is better
adapted to those whose business con.
fines them indoors and whose work
is more of the head and mental effort.
No doubt therefore, many women
will say they are too tired to walk
after performing taeir household du-
ties. Although it is true that house
work is very fatiguing work, yet it
is all performed indoors, and a short
walk in the open air will be found
great relief. We have known such
one after being engaged most of the
day in the care of the family, dress
and go out and make a call or do
some errand and when demonstrated
with fer going out when so tired,
say that she went out TO get rested.
1t is said that American ladies do
not walk as much as their English
sisters. Whether this is so or not,
or whatever the reason, certain it is
that woman who can walk over a
mile without being completely tired
out is regarded as something of a
curiosity. We think one great rea-
son of this iS To no found in tho